U-196, a type IXD2, under the command of KptLt. Yngve Yung returned from patrol on May 11, 1944, after spending just 30 days at sea.
KptLt. Yung thought it strange that BdU had ordered his boat, usually intended for long range missions, into the southern part of the Western Approaches. Being a good German officer, he did not question the unusual assignment but proceeded to the grid square to which he had been ordered. Within just a couple of days it was obvious to him that BdU had had very good reason for these orders. 40 hours after arriving in his patrol area, U-196 had sunk 8 ships for a total of more than 45,000 tons. Over the next five days he added 7 more victims.
KptLt. Yung credits his success to the high quality of his crew (most of which has been together since the boat was commissioned 20 months ago) and to "perfectly awful weather". Yung made most of his outbound transit of Biscay, and the last half of his return transit, surfaced in heavy rain. The day before U-196 arrived in its patrol area, a medium fog rolled in, and stayed for the next four days. The fog was too heavy for aircraft to be able to operate, but still allowed Yung visibility of nearly 2km. During this period U-196 claimed all but three of its kills. The awful weather was perfect for u-boat operations.
On the return trip from the patol area to the middle of the Bay of Biscay, the weather was unfortunately pleasant. During that time U-196 endured a dozen attacks by aircraft and four times was attacked within 10 minutes of surfacing. KptLt. Yung reports that U-196 was never attacked while snorkeling at night. The recently installed Tarnmatte seems to be effective.
KptLt. Yung and U-196
previously gained attention by conducting a patrol that lasted 178 days. KptLt. Yung is a recipient of the Knight's Cross. His IWO received the Fried Egg, and the other watch officers and the LI got the EK1.